WASHINTON, D.C. — An optional morning skate today, but goalie Antero Niittymaki was out there and afterward Todd McLellan pronounced him good to go for tonight’s game.

“He obviously won’t start but he’ll back-up,” the coach said. “Because we move forward here, we’ll get him more and more practice time, and we’ll be looking for a start from him at some point.”

Games rarely boil down to one-on-one matchups, but this one does have the potential to feature Douglass Murray and Alex Ovechkin going helmet to helmet. Murray, if you’ve forgotten, was out with the flu when the Sharks visited here in October 2009 and the Sharks didn’t fare so well, losing 4-1. Murray was healthy for the rematch and the Sharks won 5-2 at HP Pavilion two months later.

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Here’s McLellan’s take on the possible matchup.

“As coaches you try and find a recipe for success. And if you think that Doug Murray on Alex Ovechkin gives you a chance to win, you kind of play towards that. Game 1 here last year, we didn’t have hm. Obviously game 2 in San Jose we did and he was effective.

“But Alex Ovechkin plays against some pretty darn good defensemen, some big defensemen some physical defensemen and seems to do all right. We can’t put all our eggs in one defenseman’s basket, nor can we focus on just one of their players. We have to be aware of their team as a whole.”

Murray was among the players who opted not to skate and he had left the building when I tried to find him this morning.

*****Murray was one of four players who opted out of the skate. Patrick Marleau, Niclas Wallin and Dan Boyle were the others.

And with an optional, no clue if McLellan plans to stick with the lines he had on the ice yesterday (see previous post) or try something new.

*****For those who missed it elsewhere, the nine Sharks plus the coaching staff and training staff used yesterday’s free time for a behind-the-scenes tour of the National Archives led by archivist David Ferriero — second cousin of Benn, who was supposed to be there but ended up being reassigned to Worcester over the weekend.

In addition to the big stuff — like the Declaration of Independence — Ferriero had other documents on display, including something known as War Plan Crimson, a plan from the 1930s for the U.S. Army invasion of Canada if it ever became necessary.

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Hmmm. I saw the potential for a U.S.-Canada split among teammates on that one. And, no surprise, there was one.

“I think it was a pretty good plan. I think we should have followed through with it,” joked Wisconsin-born Joe Pavelski. “That was fun.”

Toronto-born Jamal Mayers didn’t see it that way at all.

“I thought it was quite arrogant of the U.S. to be honest,” he said, “but I’m sure Britain would have been on the way to help us out if that happened. I’m sure every neighboring country has a plan for what happens if there’s a plan to invade them, but it sounded a little aggressive.”

The plan, by the way, called for U.S. troops to move into Canada through the Maritimes and head west.

David Pollak

David Pollak has been following the NHL forever and at the Mercury News as an editor or reporter since 1987. For almost a decade he wrote about the Sharks as the paper's Fan in the Stands before joining the sports department in 2001. He became the Sharks beat writer before the 2007-08 season and began this blog at that time. You can also follow him on Twitter at @PollakOnSharks.

Don’t cry Jamal. There’s no attack coming unless the Canadians decide to do something silly. Maybe his frustration over “War Plan Crimson” will be enough to get him going and focused for every team that resides in the USA.

Planet

“a behind-the-scenes tour of the National Archives led by archivist David Ferriero — second cousin of Benn, who was supposed to be there but ended up being reassigned to Worcester over the weekend.”

Awkward!!!

“…a plan from the 1930s for the U.S. Army invasion of Canada if it ever became necessary.”

It wasn’t really thought of an invasion at the time. You see, we Americans often get confused about our own geography and forget that Canada is NOT our 51st state. It’s not so much arrogance as much as it is a public education problem…

The Congress planning an invasion of a neighbor??? It’s more like they should be trying to avoid one.

SanDiegoSharksFan

A couple of quick comments on the $15k rookie dinner. I don’t really care one way or the other how they spend their money – but let’s be clear these guys weren’t spending their own money, they were spending the rookie’s money. Seriously doubt any of these guys would voluntarily invite 25 of their best friends out for a $15k dinner on them.

As far as how that got to that number… from what i understand, it is fairly common for a least a couple of guys to order VERY expensive bottles of wine TO GO, when these rookie dinners occur. Pretty lame if you ask me, but it does explain how they could easily get to that number.

I’ll be at the game in Washington tonight… should be a doozy… go Sharks!

MikeT-in-DC

In addition to the potential for physical battles between Murray and Ovechkin, I’d be curious to see if there are any residual hard feelings between Semin and Boyle since the…er… kerfuffle between the two during the Canada – Russia matchup in the Vancouver Winter Olympics.

Murray plays left D. Ovechkin plays LW. they are on opposite sides of the ice most of the time. I dunno wtf mclellan is talkin about

Dirty (Bum)

Um, there is such a thing as defensemen switching sides. Just thought I’d put it out there.

Almaden Fin Fan

Well, if the U.S. ever had any legitimate resource need that could be fulfilled by the Canadians, it would be in needing lessons in manners and general good behavior. Unfortunately, even an invasion wouldn’t free up a large enough supply of that priceless and limited commodity, no matter how much it might appear to be in abundance in Canada.

Johnny San Jose

Almaden Fin Fan — I may be reading your post incorrectly but it looks like you’re saying that Canadians are more well mannered and have better behavior that Americans?

Have you been to Quebec?

Sounds like a general blanket statement which has no credibility in my eyes. But that’s just an opinion. In other words, I’m NOT:

– Calling you names
– Using profanity
– Engaging in a personal attack
– Bait you
– Relentlesly hammer the same point over and over

jeffy

We already own Canada. They are us, whether they admit it or not. Being there is like being in the US.

sharkiesgirl

“I think it was a pretty good plan. I think we should have followed through with it,” joked Wisconsin-born Joe Pavelski.

Lol Pavs. A little jab at the gold medal winners in Olympic hockey last year? ;o)

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